Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive stimulant drug that comes in the form of a powder and can be made into a pill or rock. The powder can be eaten or snorted and can also be mixed with liquid and injected. Crystal meth can be smoked in a small glass pipe.
Meth causes a rush of euphoria and can make a person feel edgy, hyper, angry, or afraid. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that the high a person experiences from the drug begins and fades quickly. This leads the person using to take repeated doses in a binge and crash pattern. In some cases, the meth is taken every few hours for several days without food or sleep. This increases the risk of overdose and death.
Five common signs of meth use include:
- Severe itchiness. Meth makes you feel like there are bugs crawling on or underneath your skin. This causes severe itching and leads to sores on your face and arms.
- Increased body temperature. Sometimes meth can cause your body to overheat and reach a temperature so high that you can pass out. A high body temperature can also be deadly.
- Mental health problems. Meth use leads to addiction and damages different parts of the brain. It causes emotional problems that do not go away, even after you quit using. Meth can make you paranoid and you could feel, hear, or see things that are not there.
- Rotting teeth. People who use meth often drink a large amount of sweet things, grind their teeth, and have dry mouth. Their teeth break, stain, and rot.
- Change in appearance. When you use meth, you will start to look old. It causes you to burn a lot of energy while not eating well. This leads to weight loss and a sickly appearance. The skin has sores that do not heal and you develop the “shakes” in your hands or body.
Meth use leads to severe physical and mental health complications. The large amount of dopamine that is produced by meth triggers psychosis that can persist long after the drug use stops. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction or a substance use disorder, get help now. There is no cure for addiction but there is hope in recovery.
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